Every day is a new day and with that, a new opportunity.
EVERYONE is welcome and please join us each morning at 7:30 AM PACIFIC
to tell us what you're working on, share your show & tell, vent, whatever you want...
...this is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.
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I read a lot. Voraciously. Eclectically. (Obsessively, some would say.) I couldn't begin to tell you how many books I have read over the years. But it's several thousand. In fact, when I moved to northern California seven months ago, I gave away some 2,000 to the Pasadena and Los Angeles jail libraries. I am still surrounded by the ones I couldn't give up. Most of the new stuff now goes into the Kindle. If I had to say which books have most influenced my political views I'd be putting out New Day diaries for a month.
But one book had a huge early impact.
I read it in 1960, the year I turned 14. Under conditions of my probation, I was required to get a part-time job. The idea wasn't, I suspect, to give me good habits but rather that would eat of some of my free time to help keep me out of the kind of trouble that had landed me in 23 months of reform school in Golden, Colorado. The job was what passed for an extracurricular program since the juvenile court had made me ineligible for sports until I was 15. I wasn't, let us say, very aggressive in my job search, so my probation officers found one for me—sweeping up and other menial chores—at a local weekly newspaper and combination print-shop. It turned out to be a a fortuitous match.
My boss, Bob Thatcher, was as misplaced a man as can be imagined, a pink, bald, rotund, armchair socialist of fiftysomething, an avid reader of history stuck supervising the printing of wedding invitations, covering city council meetings and writing editorials about the inadequacy of volunteer school-crossing guards. After I was on the job for three months of evenings and Saturdays, he introduced me to his office library. It was crammed with a chaos of ledgers, binders of printing invoices and U.S. history books. He told me: Pick a book, any book. You read it, then we’ll talk about it. I carefully selected the thinnest one I could find. Good choice, he said.
It was a 1910 reprint of an 1845 autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Written By Himself, which you can now find on line. In one sitting, I read what he’d written a century before I was born. And then I did what I’d never done with any other book—read it again.
Douglass was the kind of figure the dominant culture of 1960 America wanted to disremember. If you’ve ever seen a high school history textbook of that era, you know what a phenomenally good job of disremembering had been achieved. I took an instant liking to Douglass's self-described "restless spirit." My boss hadn’t been kidding. We did talk about the Narrative, about Douglass as hero, about the times in which he lived. Thatcher then lent me volume I of Philip Foner’s The Life and Writings of Frederick Douglass.
I can honestly say what I read by and about Douglass changed my life and began redirecting me along a more productive but no less rebellious path.
What book made you think differently about politics?
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Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Below the Fold
The NYC Kossacks had their Survival Celebration this past Sunday, December 2nd. belinda ridgewood posted a photo diary about it. Here are just a few photos to entice you to go see the portraits that ask shot.
Hold your cursor over each photo and the tag will detail who's in each photo
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L-R — Photographer: ask and diarist: belinda ridgewood
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L-R — NYC Kossack Organizer: sidnora and New Day Team Member: Phil S 33
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Only four portraits here, go see the diary for the rest. They are terrific!
:: COMMUNITY BUILDING UPDATES ::
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Let's build communities!
Every region needs a meat-space community like SFKossacks.
We take care of each other in real life.
I urge YOU to take the lead and organize one in your region.
Please tell us about it if you do and we're here for advice.
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THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
>>>Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
NEW GROUPS IN THE PROCESS OF ORGANIZING:
Send a Kosmail to the organizers and ask for an invitation to the group.
• Cleveland and Northeast Ohio Area: Kosmail: GenXangster
• Northern Indiana Area: Kosmail Tim Delaney
• Indianapolis Kossacks: Kosmail CityLightsLover
• Long Island: Kosmail grannycarol
• Northern Michigan: Kosmail JillS
• Nebraska: Kosmail Nebraska68847Dem
• Westburbia Chicago Kossacks: Kosmail Majordomo
• New York Hudson Valley Kossacks: Kosmail boran2
• North Carolina Triangle Kossacks: Kosmail highacidity
• Los Angeles Kossacks: Kosmail Shockwave
Note to the above new leaders: Feel free to leave a comment any day reminding readers about your new group. Also, tell us about your progress in gathering members. Kosmail me when you've chosen a good name for your group and have created a the group. Then I'll move you to the NEW GROUPS LIST. When you've planned a date for your first event I'll make a banner for you to highlight your event in our diaries and your diaries.
These are the groups that have started since * NEW DAY * began. Please Kosmail navajo if you have started a group before that.
NEW GROUPS LIST:
• California Central Valley Kossacks - Formed: Jul 29, 2012, Organizer: tgypsy, 23 members
• New England Kossacks - Formed: Aug 6, 2012, Organizers:
Clytemnestra for Lower New England (Conneticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island)
GreenMountainBoy02 for Upper New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont), 116 members
• Houston Area Kossacks - Formed: Aug 7, 2012, Organizer: Chrislove, 20 members
• Kossacks in India - Formed: Aug 14, 2012, Organizer: chandu
• CenTex Kossacks - Formed: Sep 9, 2012, Organizer: papa monzano, 8 members
• Central Ohio Kossacks - Formed: Sep 26, 2012, Organizer: VetGrl, 16 members
• Kansas City Kossacks - Formed Oct 15, 2012, Organizer: kj in missouri
• Phoenix Kossacks - Formed Oct 16, 2012, Organizer: arizonablue
• Chicago Kossacks - Formed: Oct 31, 2012, Organizer: figbash, 23 members
• Koscadia the Pacific Northwest coast from Northern California to Alaska
- Formed Oct 17, 2012, Oganizer: Horace Boothroyd III based in Portland, OR
• Boston Kossacks - Formed: Nov 7, 2012, Organizer: GreyHawk
• Motor City Kossacks South East Michigan (Detroit) Area - Formed: Nov 10, 2012, Organizer: peregrine kate
• Pittsburgh Area Kossacks - Formed: Nov 12, 2012, Organizer: dweb8231,
Current diary: And We're Off - Pittsburgh Area Kossacks Group
• Salt Lake City Kossacks - Formed: Nov 17, 2012, Organizer: War on Error
• Twin Cities Kossacks - Formed: Nov 17, 2012, Organizer: imonlylurking
Current diary: Twin Cities Kossacks 1st meetup-poll included!
• Dallas Kossacks North Texas - Formed: Nov 21, 2012, Organizer: chancew
Current diary: Dallas Kossacks, I'm calling you out!
• The Southern California Inland Empire Kossacks - Formed: Dec 3, 2012, Organizer: SoCaliana
ESTABLISHED GROUPS LIST: (List will grow as we discover them)
• SFKossacks Founded by navajo, Formed: May 2, 2005, More than 80 members
• Maryland Kos Founded by timmyc, Formed: Feb 23, 2011, More than 54 members
• New York City Founded by Eddie C, More than 58 members - Contact the group organizer for meet-up events: sidnora
• Baja Arizona Kossacks Event Organizer: Azazello, 90 members
• Three Star Kossacks Tennessee, Founded by maryKK, Formed: Apr 8, 2011, 46 members
• Nashville KosKats Founded by ZenTrainer, Formed: Jan 30, 2012, 28 members
• Virginia Kos Founded by JamieG from Md, Formed: May 3, 2011, 85 members
• Kos Georgia Founded by pat208, Formed: Feb 13, 2011, 18 members
• Colorado COmmunity Founded by Leftcandid, Formed: Feb 13, 2011, 25 members
• New Mexico Kossaks Founded by claude, 13 members
• Philly Kos Founded by mconvente, Formed: Aug 29, 2011, 15 members
Currently organizing: Kosmail asterkitty to sign up
• DKos Florida Founded by ThirstyGator, Formed: Feb 14, 2011, 33 members
Currently organizing: Kosmail Vetwife to be included in next event.
• Oklahoma Roundup Founded by BigOkie, Formed: Feb 13, 2011, 12 members
Currently organizing: Kosmail peacearena to be included.
:: Events Currently on the Books for ALL Kossacks ::
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Wednesday, December 5th
Salt Lake City Area Kossacks Screen the movie: CHASING ICE
TIME: 6:00 PM with movie at 7:00 PM
LOCATION: Salt Lake Roasting Company within The City Library
Address: 210 E. 400 S. • Salt Lake City
FREE ADMISSION at for this movie at The City Library's theater
ORGANIZER: Send War on Error a Kosmail to RSVP.
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RSVPs:
1. War on error
2. Wasatch
3. Patate
4. Ballerina X
5. AmyU
6. Blue inU
7. Blue inU's friend |
Maybes:
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Latest diary on this event: NEXT WEEK - CHASING ICE (Free Movie!) <> SLC Kossacks, MEET UP, Dec. 5th, 7PM
Saturday, December 8th
Daily Kos HQ Holiday Party with SFKossacks!
TIME: 4:00 - 7:00 PM
LOCATION: Daily Kos HQ in Berkeley
Address will be given by Kosmail to RSVP'ers
Plan on street parking outside of the very limited parking in the office complex.
Attendees may bring a decoration to put on the Daily Kos HQ War on Christmas Tree.
Daily Kos HQ is going to spring for the main course again, this time assorted pastas and the rest of us are going to bring side dishes, drinks and dessert.
I estimate we'll have about 50-60 attendees. We'll go low first and then add if needed.
BEVERAGES:
My drink calculator says we need: For three hours with average drinkers, 16 six-packs of beer and 20 bottles of wine. This will adjust up or down as the RSVPs come in.
16 six-packs of beer (16-10=6 to go)
20 bottles of wine (I'll start with my 4 bottles, so 20-19=1 to go)
Soft need below, we have a bit leftover from last time:
Bottles of water, let's say we need 2 packs
Soft Drinks, let's say we need 2 packs
I'll be bringing my large ice chest with ice, as before.
• side pocket [2 bottles of red wine, 12 pack of beer]
• tgypsy [1 bottle of wine]
• citisven [1 wine, 6pk beer]
• lineatus [2 bottles wine]
• no way lack of brain [3 red wine]
• gotmooned [2 bottles wine]
• smileycreek [1 white wine, 1 red wine]
• paradise50 [2-6pks beer]
• solarbay [2-6pks beer]
• Kestrel [2-6pks beer]
• rfall [ 1 bottle wine]
• barkingcat [sparkling water]
• DAH [bottled water]
• Ebby [2-6pks soft drinks]
• Steveningen [1 wine, 1-6pk Winter Ale]
APPETIZERS:
• side pocket [stuffed mushrooms]
• asilomar [chicken wings]
• citisven [beet dip and bread]
• lineatus [mystery appetizer]
• Cooper888 [shrimp cocktail]
• solarbay [chips & dip]
• barkingcat [bread]
• shanikka [spinach dip & bread]
SALADS:
6 green salads needed, e.g., each to feed 10
• tgypsy [green bean salad]
• Lorikeet [tofu/greens w/ soy & cashew sauce]
• remembrance [orzo salad w/ roasted shrimp]
• boatsie [veggie dish]
• ceebee7 (green salad]
• scaboni [green salad w/ bacon]
DESSERTS:
8 desserts, say a dozen hand held desserts each, e.g.
• norm [Chocolate Delight]
• dharmasyd [brownies]
• linkage [cookie tray]
• Kestrel [chocolate chip cookies]
• Oke [dessert]
• jpmassar [brownies]
• kimoconnor [dessert]
•
CHILDREN:
Not a food group. Please Kosmail me with their first name and age. Santa's lurking
no way lack of brain is bringing all chinet dinner and dessert plates, napkins, utensils and cups.
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a Kosmail to RSVP.
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RSVPs:
1. Markos Moulitsas and family
2. Susan Gardner and family
3. Will Rockafellow and family
4. Meteor Blades
5. Kaili Joy Gray
6. Faith Gardner
7. navajo [gift bags for kids]
8. side pocket [stuffed mushrooms]
9. Mrs. side pocket [2 red wine, 12pk beer]
10. lineatus [2 bottles wine, mystery appetizer]
11. no way lack of brain [3 red wine, all paper prods]
12. Brian82
13. norm [Chocolate Delight]
14. citisven [1 wine, 6pk beer, beet dip!]
15. Deb (maybe)
16. Glen the Plumber +TLO™
17. remembrance [orzo salad w/ roasted shrimp]
18. gotmooned [2 bottles wine]
19. Cooper888 [shrimp cocktail]
20. smileycreek [1 white wine, 1 red wine]
21. paradise50 [2-6pks beer]
22. dharmasyd [brownies]
23. ceebee7 (green salad]
24. Bruce Webb
25. linkage
26. Oke [dessert]
27. rfall [wine]
28. edrie
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29. maggiejean
30. Steveningen [1 wine, 1-6pk Winter Ale]
31. scaboni [green salad w/ bacon]
32. madhaus
33. jamoca
34. Lorikeet [tofu/greens w/ soy & cashew sauce]
35. Ebby [2-6pks soft drinks]
36. Bustergirl
37. kimoconnor [dessert]
38. tgypsy [1 wine, green bean salad]
39. Deward Hastings
40. ripeorangesound
41. asilomar [chicken wings]
42. I Hate Republicans
43. I Hate Republicans spouse
44. boatsie [veggie dish]
45. anonymous [beverage TBD]
46. solarbay [2-6pks beer, chips&dip]
47. linkage [cookie tray]
48. Kestrel [2-6pks beer, chocolate chip cookies]
49. jpmassar [brownies]
50. Scout Finch ! whee!
51. barkingcat [sparkling water, bread]
52. shanikka [spinach dip & bread]
53. DAH [bottled water]
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Sunday, December 9th
CenTex - Austin Area Kossacks MEET-UP
TIME: 2:00 - 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Phoenix Saloon
193 W. San Antonio St • New Braunfels
ORGANIZER: Send papa monzano a Kosmail to RSVP.
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RSVPs:
1. papa monzano
2. Teknohed
3. blue armadillo
4. TexMex
5.
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Maybes: |
Current Diary: Next CenTex Kossack Meeting Dec 9
Friday, December 14th
Holiday Dessert & COKtails
TIME: 6:30 PM
LOCATION: Mozart's Bakery & Piano Cafe
2885 N. High St. • Columbus
ORGANIZER: Send VetGrl a Kosmail to RSVP.
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RSVPs:
1. VetGrl
2. |
Maybes:
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Latest diary on this event: Central Ohio Kossacks: Meetup Photos and Save the Date for Holiday COKtails
DailyKos readers who live and/or work in New England
(Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont)
Saturday, January 12th
New England Kossacks MEET-UP
TIME: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
LOCATION: Fire and Ice
One Providence Place • Providence, RI
ORGANIZER: Send Clytemnestra a Kosmail to RSVP.
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RSVPs:
1. Clytemnestra
2. AnotherMassachusettsLiberal
3. Knockbally
4. CTLiberal
5.
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Maybees:
1. aaraujo
2. gchaucer2
3. Phil S 33
4. annieli
5. Moody Loner
6. mommyp00ka
7. Littlep00ka
8. RubDMC
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Latest diary: New England Kossacks - January Meet Up
DailyKos readers who live and/or work in New England
(Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont)
Saturday, February 16th
Northern New England Meetup in Portsmouth, NH
TIME: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
LOCATION: Margaritas Mexican Restaurant
775 Lafayette Road • Portsmouth
ORGANIZER: Send GreenMountainBoy02 a Kosmail to RSVP.
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RSVPs:
1. GreenMountainBoy02
2.
3.
4.
5.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Northern New England Meetups in Portsmouth, NH
Send
navajo a kosmail if you post a diary about an event so we can update our round-up.
Okay. Floor's open.
Tell us what you are doing on this NEW DAY?